Breastfeeding in public

[dacjohns]

Should I jump in?

First, I'm a guy.

Second, How can you call eating a Big Mac natural?

Third, breast feed is a natural, healthy, and clean process.

Fourth, babies get hungry and not always on a schedule.

Fifth, different societies, cultures, and people view things differently.

Sixth, public breastfeeding is OK with me, just cover up somehow. Loose fitting tops work.

Seventh, I have four daughters and my wife breastfed all of them.

 

[Guitartists]

I think a lot of the debate has to do with the fact that "Lady-like" is nothing at all like it was even a decade or two ago. Times are changing, peoples attitudes are changing. Fashion is changing. You catch my drift.

There was a time when women couldn't wear trousers or have short hair because it wasn't "lady-like"... and before that a time when flashing your ankle was thought scandalous!

So........ who gets to define "lady-like" these days?

 

[SeaChick]

I honestly think that for some people their aversion to breastfeeding goes much deeper.... for instance... my mom tried to talk me out of breastfeeding because she thought it was gross and icky. I think some people have a hard time accepting that this is nature. That it is how we were made to be. Some folks would like to take Nature out of the equation for a modern and "clean" world. We have a hard time in our society with accepting the human body as it is..... often it is viewed as a dirty and unclean thing. I don't think I need to say much more, I'm sure you either know what I speak of, or you don't

I know what you speak of, guitartists....

I breastfed DD exclusively. In public. With discretion. As lots have said, most people didn't even know I was doing it.

I had a funny thing happen one time: it was Thanksgiving and we were at a relative of my DH's house. Definitely not the breastfeeding-type family. Olivia needed feeding (she was about 8 weeks old) so I removed myself from the kitchen where the party was and went into the living room to nurse her in private. Well, a little kid, maybe 3 yers old, came out and came over to me. She watched me for a while (baby was latched on and everything covered up) and then asked me to see the baby. I said, "maybe later, she's eating right now." The girl said, "where's her bottle?" and I said she's not using one. The little girl was horrified: "You mean she's eating YOU??????"

I was really torn what to do or say. I felt bad because it wasn't my place to tell the kid about something that some people find indelicate- but she was absolutely horrified, on the verge of tears. I couldn't very well disengage the baby and go get her mom without her seeing what was going on and maybe upsetting her more. So I took a deep breath and said, " Oh, no, honey, she's drinking the milk from my breast."....... and waited with bated breath to see what damage I'd caused in her little mind. But -like kids will- she just looked at me a little puzzled and finally said, "oh, ok." and went and played with something else.

I told the mom about it and she seemed OK, but I always felt kind of bad. Not that it ever kept me from breastfeeding in public. I firmly believe that America has some seriously messed up collective consciousness about breasts. It's so unhealthy.​

 

[FloridaChickenChick]

Quote:
I have NEVER been subjected to full frontal nudity of breastfeeding women. Or even upper half frontal nudity. I have never seen these women who insist on showing off all that God gave them. Oh, other than Britney, of course, and that was the BOTTOM half.

Full frontal nudity...showing off all that God gave them....sort of extremist language for a non-extreme problem, IMHO.

 

[Guitartists]

Maybe it's just my geographic location.... but I have never heard of or seen full-frontal nursing either!

Maybe it's an extreme sport in some parts of the country or something....

... a new craze!

edited to add..... I think sometimes that the imagination is prone to adding to certain situations

 

[poppycat]

Quote:
The most "extreme" breastfeeding I've seen is a gal sitting on the floor in the dairy section of the grocery store, nursing, with no blanket cover. People were definitely shocked and giving her dirty looks. Personally, I loved the irony.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Quote:
Being lady-like or having tasteful manners never goes out of fashion even tho our times have changed ever so much ......

 

[jessupfamily]

And since when is it a "right" to breastfeed? Rights are something that are granted, nursing is what your supposed to do, and bottle feeding is a right that you can choose. Could you imagine if people who are offended by bottle feeding reacted every time? Being that offended that often would wear me out! Actually just reading that sounds insane to even say! How can you say your offended by nursing in any way? That just sounds ridiculous! And that you would have to make an effort to respect that "right" of nursing, does this not sound completely out of proportion to anyone else? We are a very self centered and self serving society. This should not even be an issue.
Blessings,
Amy

 

[rodandbrandy]

I can not believe this is going on and on, breastfeeding is natural and recomended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for minimum the first year of life, if someone is breastfeeding near you and it bothers you than you DO have the right to get up and leave, so please do that instead of making such a big deal about a breast. Is this not a chicken forum? I think when chickens start breastfeeding we should revisit this topic otherwise LET IT GO!!

 

[rodandbrandy]

Quote:
THANK YOU!!